TNAG-0773-FCO40-977-Redevelopment-of-the-former-Kowloon-Canton-Railway-Station-1978 — Page 56

CONFIDENTAL

5. I THOUGHT THAT YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS DEMAND, TO W H WE

ARE NOT (REPEAT NOT) INCLINED TO ACCEDE, IN CASE THE HERITAGE SOCIETY SHOULD APPROACH SOME PRESERVATIONIST GROUP IN BRITAIN FOR

SUPPORT.

6. SO FAR AS HONG KONG IS CONCERNED, WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AS FAST

AS POSSIBLE WITH THE DEMOLITION OF A USELESS AND ABANDONED RAILWAY STATION, ABOUT 60 YEARS OLD, TO MAKE WAY FOR A SUPERB NEW

CULTURAL CENTRE, INCLUDING BOTH A LARGE THEATRE AND A BIG CONCERT

HALL. THIS IS A BADLY NEEDED FACILITY WHICH WILL ENRICH THE LIFE OF

THE COMMUNITY. WE BELIEVE THAT THE DECISION TO PROCEED WITH

DEMOLITION AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW COMPLEX HAS MET WITH

GENERAL PUBLIC APPROVAL. OUR SURVEYS OF PUBLIC OPINION CONFIRM THAT

THE GENERAL PUBLIC HAVE NO PARTICULAR AFFECTION FOR THE OLD

STATION, WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF THE CLOCK TOWER. THE

HERITAGE SOCIETY IS THE ONLY GROUP WHICH HAS CONTINUED TO PROTEST.

7. I HOPE THAT YOU WILL AGREE THAT WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW THE

SUBMISSION OF A PETITION TO THE QUEEN, OR THE THREAT OF ONE, TO

HOLD UP THIS NECESSARY DEVELOPMENT ANY LONGER. DELAY WOULD BE

PARTICULARLY UNFORTUNATE IN THIS CASE WHEN WE HAVE ALREADY DELAYED

ONCE IN ORDER TO ALLOW A PETITION. IT WOULD ALSO INVOLVE THE

ACCEPTANCE OF THE UNDESIRABLE PRINCIPLE THAT ANY PUBLIC PROJECT SHOULD BE POSTPONED UNTIL OBJECTORS HAVE NOT ONLY EXHAUSTED LOCAL RECOURSE BUT HAVE BEEN GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO PETITION THE QUEEN.

MACLEHOSE

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MR CORMAZZI

MR MURRAY

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